Individual and Group Opportunities
An individual volunteer or volunteer group’s involvement in the following opportunities allows him/her/them and a refugees/refugee family to create personal, mutually-beneficial relationships.
Photo by Brett Seay
An individual volunteer:
As an individual, you may choose to volunteer in any of these areas with a refugee on a consistent basis.
A volunteer group: Good Neighbor Team (GNT):
A volunteer group can be involved by forming a Good Neighbor Team (GNT), which involves a group of 4-10 individuals (roughly) committing to serve a refugee (at least) once a week for six months. The team would do a skills assessment of their own talents, and sign up to participate in whichever of the following activities match their passions and skill sets. (Note: A GNT is not required to participate in all of the activities).
List of volunteer opportunities for both an individual and a GNT:
1. Pre-arrival Donations Gatherer:
- Volunteers assist in gathering donations to furnish a newly-arrived refugee/refugee family’s apartment
- A list of these specific donation needs is found here. Items 1-5 are required to furnish a house. (Note: A volunteer is not responsible for obtaining all of these donations for a refugee’s apartment, but is encouraged to donate whatever he/she is able).
2. Grocery Shopper:
- Donate groceries for a newly-arrived refugee/refugee family’s pantry. Needed grocery items are found here.
3. Apartment Set-up Assistant:
- Assist our resource manager in physically moving the furniture and household items (using our provided box truck) into a refugees’ new apartment upon his/her arrival.
4. Warm Meal Provider:
- Provide newly-arrived refugees with their first warm meal.
5. Airport Greeter (GNT only):
- GNT members, along with a member of the World Relief Durham Staff, greet their partnered refugee/refugee family at the airport.
6. Conversation Partner
- Tutor a refugee 1-2 times per week using resources provided by World Relief
7. Appointment Assistant:
- Provide transportation for refugees to various appointments
- Assist refugees in acquiring bank accounts, social security cards, and state IDs
8. Transportation Familiarity Assistant:
- Familiarize refugees with bussing systems and other modes of transportation
9. Education Assistant
- Help children get enrolled in schooling, familiarize parents with school systems and local libraries
- Assist children with homework
10. Finance Assistant
- Teach refugee about currency, balancing budgets, writing checks and setting up bank accounts
11. Health Assistant
- Explain to refugee different healthcare options (when to go to the ER, Urgent Care and Health Department)
- Show basic medicinal options at drugstores and explain how to use them
- Coach refugee in nutrition and grocery shopping
- Tutor refugees during Health Classes at 11 a.m. on Friday mornings at the World Relief office
12. Employment Coach
- Volunteers assist refugee with obtaining and completing job applications
- Familiarize refugee with interview process and building resumes
- Tutor refugees during Job Classes, Fridays at 10 a.m., at the World Relief office
13. Childcare Provider
- Provide childcare for refugees during Health classes (Fridays 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.)
- Provide childcare for refugees during Job classes (Fridays 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
Other Volunteer Opportunities:
Outside of relationship-building and ESL opportunities, we also need volunteers to help meet clerical needs.
1. Warehouse Organizer
- Volunteers move furniture within the warehouse and sort donations.
2. Clothing Closet Organizer
- Volunteers sort clothing donations for refugees to obtain clothing
Prayer Opportunities:
Not able to commit to a hands-on, relational volunteer opportunity? Join our prayer team and pray for our refugees for an hour each week. Learn more by visiting our website’s prayer page.
